I miss the craziness in ‘Just A Band’- Former band member Blinky Bill

 Blinky Bill [Photo: Courtesy]

Blinky Bill, is this the name that appears in your ID?

(Laughs). Not really. My real name is Bill Sellanga. Blinky Bill is a nickname I got when I was in high school.

There was  an Aussie cartoon with the same name and my dorm-mates used to call me. They were merely making fun of me. 

When I started performing with Just A Band, I saw my name written as Bill Sellanga in the newspaper and it felt boring, so I took up Blinky Bill and it stuck. Also, one of my favourite producers is called Danger Mouse.

 How old were you when you decided to pursue music?

I was in high school, and back then I used to write music for the choir, so maybe around 17.

 What role did you play in Just A Band, and what do you believe was your biggest accomplishment?

I have been involved a lot on the musical direction of things and have learnt a lot about film and photography.

When it comes to accomplishments they were many, from creating the first viral video (Makmende) ever in Kenya, to touring the world, to being on a Fela Kuti compilation album and having songs with Chance The Rapper and Childish Gambino.

Last year, Just A band announced they were taking a break to pursue solo projects, was exactly happened?

You see, Just A Band is the vehicle with which we have grown as artistes and the vibe with which we made the music, videos, book and other art forms.

It has given us all the confidence to be able to stand on our feet and put out our solo work as well and see where that could lead. Think it was about time.

How is it being a solo artiste?

It’s been quite a trip to be honest, I think I’m loving exploring a lot of music ideas and also playing on my own as a DJ or live with my band.

 I just played my solo show in Nairobi which did very well. I also played at TEDSummit in Canada and A DJ show in Germany at the end of the year.

Further, I released an EP in August called, We cut Keys While You Wait and I have a new single out with Mayonde and MDQ called Feeling it. I will be releasing my album later this year.

Where is your EP available? You can download it (My EP) for free/Pay what you want on Bandcamp, Kenyan music site Waabeh, sample it on soundcloud, my handle is @heyheyblinkybill.

Your sound is very different, how would you best describe it? A friend of mine in South Africa on hearing my EP described it as Nairobibounce and I like it.

Which artistes have influenced your sound? Pharrell, Kanye West, Bob Marley, Kaytranada, Andre 3000, Fela Kuti, Ogopa DJs. I really admire MDQ, Fena, Nyashinsky, KSouth Flava, Cosmic Homies, EA Wave, Sage, Dillie, Octo and a host of others.

What do you love about being a solo artist as opposed to being in a band? That I have autonomy and that I can have some material that’s out in my name and that’s pretty important to me.

What are the challenges of going it alone? Sometimes, I miss having the rest of Just A Band to bounce ideas off of, but we all really admire each other and are happy for everyone’s successes.

What is your career high so far ? Being the first East African musician to be selected to join the Red Bull Music Academy in Tokyo, and was also selected as a TED Fellow.

I have gotten the chance to play in Rio in Brazil. There have been a lot of good moments that have made the difficult moments bearable and I am always just looking forward to the next adventure.

Did you get any formal training in music or is this all self-taught? I am self-taught, mostly through reading, listening, practicing and jamming with and to good musicians.

Apart from being a solo artiste are you also involved in film like the other two members of Just A band- Jimmy Chuchu and Mbithi Masya- who each had their work screened at last year’s Toronto Film Festival?

No, I am a full-time musician and producer. My band mate Mbithi Masya did the film, Kati Kati which has been received super well and is going to be showing in Nairobi later this month. There’s some Just A Band music in there as well.

What of Just A Band is it over, when can fans expect new material? Just A Band is not over, we are like NERD or Gorrilaz or Daft Punk who normally take breaks and go on solo adventures then eventually come back together.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years? Travelling around the world playing music with some of my favourite musicians.